Western Maryland locomotive 1309 is a steam standout

Western Maryland steam locomotive 1309 rounds a curve in the track

Name: Western Maryland locomotive 1309 Builder: Baldwin Locomotive Works Wheel arrangement: 2-6-6-2 Mallet (Articulated) Build date: November 1949 Why it’s important: The 1309 is one of the largest regularly operating steam locomotives in the United States. The big 2-6-6-2 originally belonged to the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway, where it was one of 10 class H-6 compound articulated […]

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Silvis update: UP passenger cars being repaired

Steam locomotive under repair

SILVIS, Ill. – Railroading Heritage of Midwest America reports it is making significant progress on repairs to former Union Pacific passenger rolling stock at its Silvis, Ill., shop complex. In an email to donors, RRHMA President and Chief Operating Officer Steve Sandberg said in the coming weeks former Southern Pacific business car Stanford will be sandblasted […]

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Pacific with Santa Fe mail and express

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A mail-and-express train running as the second section of Santa Fe train 20 descends Edelstein Hill west of Chillicothe, Ill., around 1950. Six express reefers trail the locomotive, followed by several baggage express cars. The locomotive, Pacific No. 3434, has its smokestack extension raised. T. H. Cole Jr. photo […]

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Kitbash an inexpensive flag stop station

red and green model station on a table

Kitbash an inexpensive flag stop station: I stopped by a garage sale last year that had children’s toys piled up on a table. I found several items I thought I could use, including what looked to be a horse stable building. The seller was asking 50 cents for it and the other items I picked […]

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Soo Line No. 1003 Photo Special

In coordination with the Kalmbach Media sponsored TrainFest hobby show in Milwaukee, Wisc., the Steam Locomotive Heritage Association used the opportunity to fire up their 1913-built American Locomotive Company, Class L-1 2-8-2 steam engine, Soo Line No. 1003. This photo special routed over the tracks of regional railroad Wisconsin & Southern — all to the […]

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EBT No. 16 limbers up for Winter Spectacular

Steam locomotive at edge of turntable with red shop buildings in background. East Broad Top expanded tours

ROCKHILL FURNACE, Pa. – East Broad Top’s 1916 Baldwin 2-8-2 Mikado steam locomotive, under restoration for nearly three years, stretched its legs Thursday (Feb. 9) in preparation for the narrow gauge railroad’s annual Winter Spectacular railfan weekend. Expanded to a two-day event this year, it is scheduled for Feb. 18-19. The 81-ton engine has created […]

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Olympia & Sand Creek, Episode 7 | Ambient sounds for Sand Creek

David works to put all the right sounds in all the right places on his Olympia Logging Co. On30 layout. His secret to installing the proper audio effects lies in the PRICOM Dream Player modules and the wide array of sounds samples that fit on a tiny micro-SD card. Follow along to learn David’s pro […]

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Olympia & Sand Creek, Episode 7 | Ambient sounds for Sand Creek

David works to put all the right sounds in all the right places on his Olympia Logging Co. On30 layout. His secret to installing the proper audio effects lies in the PRICOM Dream Player modules and the wide array of sounds samples that fit on a tiny micro-SD card. Follow along to learn David’s pro […]

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Rail Heritage Photography Weekend to celebrate 60th anniversary of Cass Scenic Railroad

Two double-headed steam locomotives haul a tourist train through a springtime forest.

CASS, W.Va. —Tickets are now on sale from the Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad for its 2023 Rail Heritage Photography Weekend, a two-day event in May limited to 70 attendees. The event set for May 6-7 will celebrate the the 60th anniversary of the Cass Scenic Railroad, and will feature the railroad’s locomotives pulling vintage […]

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Soo Line locomotive 1003 is a mammoth Mikado

Restored Soo Line Mikado-type steam engine rolls under a rusty railroad overpass

Name: Soo Line locomotive 1003 Builder: American Locomotive Company (Alco) Wheel arrangement: 2-8-2 Mikado Build date: March 1913 Why it’s important: Built for the Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie Railroad, commonly known as the Soo Line, the 1003 is both large (250 tons) and powerful (53,947 pounds starting tractive effort). A highly versatile locomotive […]

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